Improvement in annular steam-generators



G. L. LAFLlN Improvement in Annular Steam-Generators. N0. 131,958.Patented Oct. 8, 1872 277986533 U firm/p7 Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICEGEORGE ILLAFLIN, OF WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD B.LIGHT AND GATHARINE BAKER, OF SAME PLACE.

' IMPROVEMENT IN ANNULAR STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,958, dated October8, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. LAFLIN, of Westfield, Hampden county,Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Steam-GeneratorandWater-Heater, for housewarming purposes, of which the following is aspecification:

My invention relates to the construction of an apparatus forhouse-warming purposes that may be used either to generate steam or heatwater, to be conveyed by pipes to the desired poin ts, and consists inthe arrangement, within a boiler-case and above the fire, of concentricreservoirs for the reception of the water to be heated, spaces beingleft between these reservoirs to form fire-passages, and the reservoirsbeing connected severally to each other by piping to form watercommunications, and at points above the water by piping to asteamreceiver above the boiler, where the steam is accumulated inquantity for use. My invention also relates to the arrangement, inconnection with the reservoirs, of a chamber above and communicatingwith the same, and having its inner surface concave, so as toconcentrate and deflect the heat over the tops of the reservoirs, forthe purpose of increasing the heating-surface and more perfectlyutilizing the heat and my invention also relates to the combination,with the above-mentioned parts,

of a boiler-cap, constructed so as to form also a drum to store thesteam and present a large interior surface to the contact of the heat.

In the drawing, Figure I is a sectional elevation; and Fig. II, anendview of my heater having the top portion removed.

The object of my invention is to form a heater that shall be peculiarlyadapted for house-warming purposes, by having in the minimum amount ofroom the water-space, the fiues for conducting the heat, the fire box,and the reservoir for the retention of a body of steam, so arranged aswith little fuel to supply all steam needed, and be practically easy ofconstruction. I arrange within an upright boiler-case, E, made. double,as seen in Fig. I, to contain part of the water to be heated, a seriesof continuous water-spaces placed concentrically to the case E, andhaving their bottoms sufficiently raised within the case E to leave thefire-box H. These reservoirs F G I are in efl'ect connected with eachother by bein g severally connected to the one, E, by the pipes f g i,to secure the'water communication, and'by pipes at b 0 above thewater-line. Similarly connected ports are formed to conduct the steam tothe drum D. The height of water may be determined by an ordinaryfloatvalve, and indicated by a water-gage. In the concentric arrangementof reservoirs spaces are left between each as a fire-flue, and in orderthat the heat may be made to come directly in contact with the tops ofthe reservoirs F G I, as well as with their other three sides, and inorder to provide an auxiliary chamber for the reception of steam, whereit may be superheated if desired, I place above the reservoir I andconnected to it by the port b,.the steam-chamber, V-formed to have itsconcave under surface deflect the heat rising through the flues over thetops of the reservoirs F G I before allowing it to escape past its sidesand over its top surface, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. I, thischamber V, thus, by its construction and arrangement relative to thelines and reservoirs, enabling steam to be produced and kept with asmall expenditure of fuel. The outer case E and inner reservoirs may beformed angular or of any curve, though in practice I form themcylindrical and cast them of iron, each entire, and each with two ormore lips, d, to rest upon corresponding ones upon its next cylinder, sothat the one, F, being suspended within the on e, E, holds the next,when inserted in place. The

cylinders, when arranged in place, are tapped;

from the outside of case E and severally connected to it and to the drumD, the pipes serving to hold all of the cylinders and case together. Thechamber V and drum D I also cast, and the latter is fitted to andsecurely clamped to the top of case E. If desired, a flue may be carriedthrough the center of reservoir I, and the chamber V be connected withany other of the inner reservoirs without any of its functions beingthereby changed.

Inthis generator the hot water may be forced' through the heating-pipesof a building, or

steam alone, and the steam may be made to blow off at a pressure lessthan that exerted by the head of water from a hydrant or cistern used tofill the boiler.

2. In combination with the reservoirs F G I and with the flue-passagesbetween them,

the chamber V, constructed and arranged substantially as shown.

3. In combination with the reservoirs E F G I and with the chamber V,the drum D, constructed to form with top surface of chamber V the fluem.

GEORGE L. LAFLIN. Witnesses:

GEO. F. SPENCER, Enw. B. LIGHT.

